title: Syncope without prodromes in patients with normal heart and normal electrocardiogram: a distinct entity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to investigate the clinical and laboratory findings of patients affected by sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The pathophysiology of syncope in these patients is uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the clinical and laboratory findings of 15 patients with sudden-onset syncope without prodromes who had a normal heart and normal electrocardiogram (the study group) with those of 31 patients with established vasovagal syncope (VVS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients in the study group were older than those with VVS (age 61 ± 12 years vs. 46 ± 17 years) and had a history of fewer episodes of syncope (median of 2 [interquartile range [IQR]: 1 to 2.5] vs. 9 [IQR: 4 to 15] years) that were of more recent onset (median of 1 [IQR: 0 to 1] vs. 10.5 [IQR: 3.3 to 27] years). The study group had lower median baseline adenosine plasmatic levels than the VVS group (0.25 μmol/l [95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 1.51] vs. 0.85 μmol/l [95% confidence interval: 0.32 to 2.80]). On receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the adenosine plasmatic level of ≤0.36 best discriminated between groups, displaying 73% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Tilt table testing was more frequently positive in patients with VVS than in the study group (74% vs. 33%). A similarly high positivity rate of adenosine/adenosine triphosphate testing was found in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Common clinical features and a low adenosine plasmatic level define a distinct form of syncope, distinguish it from VVS, and suggest a causal role of the adenosine pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Deharo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France; Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Université de la Méditerranée, Ministère de la Défense, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Regis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guieu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mechulan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Timone University Hospital, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peyrouse
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Université de la Méditerranée, Ministère de la Défense, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kipson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Université de la Méditerranée, Ministère de la Défense, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruf
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Université de la Méditerranée, Ministère de la Défense, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gerolami
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Devoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marrè
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy. Electronic address: mbrignole@asl4.liguria.it.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brignole
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062706:Prodromal Symptoms; D013575:Syncope / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000241:Adenosine
keywords: APL; ATP; AV; AV block; ECG; VVS; adenosine; adenosine plasmatic level; adenosine triphosphate; atrioventricular; electrocardiogram; syncope; vasovagal; vasovagal syncope